Russia could relaunch offensive to "conquer" Donbas region in days, French military spokesperson says

The Russian military is preparing for a “large-scale offensive” in the east of Ukraine in the coming days, French military spokesperson Colonel Pascal Lanni said on April 13, CNN reports. 

“Within the next few days, 10 days or so maybe, Russia could relaunch its efforts with a large-scale offensive in the east and south to conquer the Donetsk and Luhansk regions […] or even to push as far as the Dnipro [river] if its capacities allow it,” Lanni told journalists.

According to him, the Russian forces were carrying out air strikes and bombings in Ukraine not only “to weaken the coherence of the Ukrainian defense system, but also to disrupt Ukrainian logistical movements and capacity,” which explained the “total destruction” of Dnipro's airport by Russian troops. 

He also noted that there were “no significant advances at this stage in terms of territorial gains for the Russian forces on the eastern front.”